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• Off and On Trail Hike: Crooked Arm Branch

  • When
    03/25/2023

  This on and off-trial hike will explore regions around familiar trails near the entrance to Cades Cove. The hike starts on the Crooked Arm Ridge trail but leaves the trail to continue straight up the Crooked Arm Branch to explore the cascades and territory above. It will be steep and may involve wet feet so you may want to bring dry socks to change for the latter parts of the hike. After about a mile climbing Crooked Arm Branch we will regain the trail and follow it west and then south for about 2.5 miles to what used to be an overlook. Then we again leave the comfort of the trail to head steeply down Cave Ridge and see if we can find Gregory’s Cave near the bottom of the ridge. We will just look in so as not to disturb the bats and then follow the woods to the Rich Mountain Loop Trail which will take us back to the cars. The hike is about 7.5 miles long with about 2200 ft elevation gain, rated difficult due to the off-trail parts.

  Leaders: Steve Dickinson and Mike Harrington

  To register, contact the leader directly via email, text or phone. You can find contact information in the March 2023 newsletter writeup for this hike.

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• Laurel Snow State Natural Area

  • When
    03/25/2023
  •  
    9:15 AM
  • Location
    Laurel-Snow Trailhead, 1098 Pocket Wilderness Rd #100, Dayton TN

  Register

  This is a "Y" shaped out and back hike within the 710-acre Laurel-Snow State Natural Area, (formerly Bowater Pocket Wilderness) near Dayton, TN. In the future the trail will connect to the 300-mile Cumberland Trail. The Laurel-Snow CT Section contains an area of gorges deeply cut into Walden Ridge of the Cumberland Plateau by Morgan, Henderson, Laurel, and Richland Creeks and is named after two scenic waterfalls, Laurel Falls (80 feet) and Snow Falls (35 feet). This hike features scenic creeks, steep gorges, geologic features, a small stand of virgin timber, and a wide variety of plants and animals but will exclude Snow Falls due to the required shallow ford crossing of Morgan Creek. Lunch will be at Buzzard Point which offers views of the gorge and the Tennessee River Valley. Total 10.6 miles, about 1700 feettotal gain. Rated Moderate. Meet at Lowe’s, 1800 Roane State Hwy, Harriman, TN which is near I-40 at Midtown exit, Exit 350. Be ready to leave at 8:00 am. The carpool drive is 42 miles, 1hour. Total round trip is 84 miles @ 0.10/mile = $8.40 total. Those not carpooling should meet at the Laurel-Snow Trailhead ready to hike at 9:15. (1098 Pocket Wilderness Rd #100, Dayton TN).

  Leader: Larry Johnson

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• Easy Hike: Middle Prong Trail in Tremont (Sunday)

  • When
    03/26/2023
  •  
    2:00 PM
  • Location
    End of Tremont Rd, GSMNP

  Register

  We begin this family friendly walk on Middle Prong trail that follows the railroad bed of the old Tremont Lumber Company. Lynn Camp Prong will be on our left and views of Lynn Camp Cascade at .3 mile, remnants of a former orchard, and at 1.7 miles, an old rusted Cadillac which makes a fine photo op. We may go .3 more to the junctions with Panther Creek. Hopefully, we will see the beginnings of many spring wildflowers as we go. Round trip is a little over 4 miles, rated easy. Carpool from the old Food City location at 131 N Hall Road in Alcoa at 1:00. Carpool round trip is 50 miles. At 10 cents per mile = $5.00 to the driver. Or meet at the end of Tremont Road parking area at 2:00.

  Leader: Priscilla Clayton

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• Wednesday Hike: Bradley Fork to Cabin Flats

  • When
    03/29/2023
  •  
    9:30 AM
  • Location
    Smokemont Campground, GSMNP

  Register

  We will explore a bit of the North Carolina side of the Smoky Mountains as we walk to road/trail up Bradley Fork to campsite 49 at Cabin Flats. Being March, expect to encounter a mild early spring day or an icy chill late winter blast. Hopefully the former, as we spend the day on this 9 mile round trip. There are several cascades to pass on Bradley Fork of the Oconaluftee River. Early spring wildflowers like dwarf crested iris, foam flower, wild geranium, hepatica, yellow mandarin, and others line the trail. A little less than 1000 ft of elevation gain, rated moderate. Total miles 9.8. We will meet at the far end of the Smokemont Campground at 9:30 a.m. Carpool from the old Food City location at 131 N Hall Road in Alcoa leaving at 7:30 a.m. Roundtrip is 124 miles. At 10 cents/miles = $12.40.

  Leader: Randy Mitchell

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• AT Work Trip

  • When
    04/01/2023
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • Location
    Fontana Dam Visitors Center, 40 Fontana Dam Rd, Fontana Dam, NC 28733
  • Spaces left
    20

  Register

  This work trip will focus on treadway rehab in the section between Fontana Dam and Shuckstack Fire Tower. Specific locations of work will be based on prioritization of work needed and number of volunteers available. All work locations will be less than 5 miles round trip from the trailhead. Participants will need to wear sturdy footwear, bring work gloves, lunch, snacks and plenty of water.

  Meeting times and locations: Maryville Walmart at 2410 US-411 S at 7:30 am or at the Fontana Dam Visitor Center near 40 Fontana Dam Rd, Fontana Dam, NC 28733 at 9:00am. Roundtrip travel is approximately 110 miles.

  Leader: Franklin LaFond
  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• Easy Hike: Norris Watershed (Tuesday)

  • When
    04/04/2023
  •  
    10:00 AM
  • Location
    Ingles at I-75N and Emory Road, Knoxville, TN

  Register

  Norris Watershed has many hiking and biking trails. For this hike we will start at the Grist Mill and explore up Clear Creek Trail and Dyer Hollow Trail looking for wildflowers. Dyer Hollow has a tremendous display of Trout Lilies which will probably be past peak, but you will know where to look next Spring. From there we may continue past Norris Dam to see what is blooming on the River Bluff Trail. Hike 2-4 miles depending on our choice. Meet ready to leave at 10 am at Ingle's parking off I-75 North and Emory Rd. Driving 33 miles RT @10 cents/mile=$3.30

  Leader: Barbara Allen

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• Wednesday Hike: Ace Gap Trail to Campsite 3 on Beard Cane Trail

  • When
    04/05/2023
  •  
    8:30 AM
  • Location
    Ace Gap Trailhead, Townsend, GSMNP

  Register

  Let’s look for early wildflowers! We’ll hike the rolling hills of the Ace Gap Trail to Blair Gap on Hurricane Mountain and the intersection with the Beard Cane Trail (5.6 miles). Then we’ll turn down Beard Cane to Campsite 3 (0.6 miles), a nice place to enjoy lunch (though the waters of Beard Cane Creak are usually too high to cross to get to the Campsite). Return the same way. Hike: 12.4 miles with elevation gain of 2,300 ft., rated Moderate. For those stopping at the Ace Gap/Beard Cane intersection: Hike 11.2 miles with elevation gain of 1,900 ft., rated Moderate. To carpool, meet at the old Alcoa Food City, 121 N Hall Rd., Alcoa ready to leave at 8:00am {Drive: 40 miles RT @ 10¢/mile=$4.00} or at the Ace Gap trailhead at 8:30am. Note that the hike leader will meet you at the trailhead, not the carpool site.

  Leader: Pat Watts

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• Map Marker: Little Cataloochee Trail to Pretty Hollow Campsite 39

  • When
    04/08/2023
  •  
    9:45 AM
  • Location
    Little Cataloochee Trailhead, Mt Sterling Road, GSMNP

  Register

  This mostly one-way hike will mark the map to complete the Little Cataloochee trail. We start at the trailhead on Mount Sterling road at about 3050 ft. elevation. We will organize a shuttle to park most cars at the hike end at the Pretty Hollow Gap trailhead on Cataloochee road. This will be a leisurely hike through the rarely visited Little Cataloochee Valley, one of the several scattered farm villages in this area of the park. Highlights include the Hannah Cemetery, Hannah Cabin, Dan Cook Cabin, and Little Cataloochee Baptist Church. Perfect for photography buffs. The trail varies from old gravel road to single track. There are some boggy areas and side stream rock-hoping and a moderate climb over Davidson Gap. This hike Includes Pretty Hollow Gap tr. to camp site, (CS) 39 Pretty Hollow, 1.6 mi. out and back, (3.2 mi total). At the end of Little Cataloochee Tr, those wanting a 3.2 mi shorter hike, (total of 6.0 mi.), may easily skip the out and back to CS 39 Pretty Hollow. The leader will guide those hikers to turn left on Pretty Hollow Gap Tr. 0.8 mi to the end on Cataloochee Rd where most cars will be parked. Difficulty is moderate. With CS 39, the total is 9.2 miles. The shorter hike without CS 39 total is 6.0 miles. Ascent about 1,100 ft.

  To carpool, meet at the Cracker Barrel at Strawberry Plains, 1510 Cracker Barrel Lane, I-40 Exit 398. Park on the right side of the lot. Be ready to leave Cracker Barrel by 7:30 am. Or meet at Little Cataloochee TH on Mount Sterling road ready to start the gravel road shuttle by 9:45 am. Carpool distance is 143 mi. (128 mi plus shuttle 15 mi). Each rider please plan to pay your driver $14.30 each rider.

  Leader: Larry Johnson

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• Off Trail Hike: Wilson Falls

  • When
    04/15/2023

  Purportedly the longest continuous cascade in the Smokies, Wilson Falls tumbles several hundred yards from the upper bounds of Meigs Post Prong. The falls are comprised of a majestic 400-foot upper cascade that rolls into a rugged sequence of middle tier siblings before dropping into a fifty-foot lower falls. Beginning from the spruce-fir stands near Mount Collins, the hike descends into the lush valley of a tributary of Sweet Creek to its confluence with Meigs Post Prong before turning upstream for a brisk rock-hop to the base of Wilson Falls. A stiff climb up the cascades terminates near the starting point on Mount Collins. The hike is rated difficult due to steep rocky terrain and four miles of slick creek scrambling.

  Leaders: Ken Wise and Todd Long

  To register, contact the leader directly via email, text or phone. You can find contact information in the April 2023 newsletter writeup for this hike.

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• Wildflower Loop Hike at Frozen Head State Park

  • When
    04/15/2023
  •  
    8:00 AM
  • Location
    Shelter B Parking, Flat Fork Road, Frozen Head State Park

  Register

  Frozen Head State Park is renowned for its display of wildflowers in April and May. Join us for a 7.3 mile, loop hike on the south-facing slope of Bird Mountain, where we will see a great display of vernal flora and some interesting geologic formations. We will meet at the parking lot for Shelter B at the entrance to Big Cove Campground. We will walk the 0.1 miles through the campground to the Big Cove Trailhead (at 1,600 feet) on the north end of the campground. From there, we will take the West Lookout Tower Trail 0.1 mile, then take a left and climb up the Bird Mountain Trail to its intersection with the Cumberland Trail. We will then go east on the CT, passing by the Castle Rocks and on to the top of Bird Mountain (3,010 feet). We will stay on the CT until it meets the West Lookout Tower Trail again, then descend back to where we began on that trail. This is a moderately difficult hike with a vertical rise and fall of about 1,800 feet, including some ups and downs on the CT. Much of the route is rocky or rooty and there are some steep drop-offs in places. We will ramble along slowly and enjoy the flowers and rock formations and not try to see how fast we can hike this route!

  Carpoolers can meet at the Books-A-Million in Oak Ridge at 310 S. Illinois Avenue at 7:00 AM and depart by 7:15 AM. The carpool fee is $4.60 (23 miles x 2 x $0.10/mile). Otherwise, meet at the Shelter B parking lot at 8:00 AM. We need an early start to avoid the parking crunch expected in the park that day. The entrance to Frozen Head State Park is on Flat Fork Road, off TN Highway 62, three miles east of Wartburg, TN.

  Leaders: Jerry and Alice Thornton

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• Wednesday Hike: AT, Dry Sluice, Grassy Branch, Sweat Heifer Loop

  • When
    04/19/2023
  •  
    8:45 AM
  • Location
    Newfound Gap parking area, GSMNP

  Register

  We’ll start this challenging loop hike from Newfound Gap, heading out the A.T. to first make our way to Charlies Bunion. Then we will continue the loop, turning south onto Dry Sluice Gap and on to Grassy Branch. Then get ready for the demanding (for even the best of hikers) climb up Sweat Heifer Creek (2,300 ft. over 3.7 miles). After reaching the A.T., we’ll return back to Newfound Gap. The hike is 13.7 miles rated Difficult/Strenuous due to mileage and the steep climb out. Total elevation gain 3,740 ft. To carpool, meet at the old Alcoa Food City, 121 N Hall Rd., Alcoa ready to leave at 7:30am {Drive: 100 miles RT @10¢/mile=$10.00} or at Newfound Gap at 8:45am. Note that the hike leader will meet you at the trailhead, not the carpool site.

  Leader: Pat Watts

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• Norris River Bluff Trail - New Member Hike

  • When
    04/22/2023
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • Location
    Norris Dam Visitor Center, 1810 Norris Freeway, Norris, TN
  • Spaces left
    24

  Register

  The River Bluff Trail is a scenic way to see the Clinch River and enjoy a beautiful, forested area. This is a great trail for observing a large variety of wildflowers in a small area including several rare species. Rich pockets of wildflowers are scattered over the hillside, especially yellow trout lilies, celandine poppies, bloodroot, spring beauties and toothwort. It is a 3.2 mile loop with and elevation gain of 538 ft., rated easy. The trail is located on the Norris Dam Reservation on the west side of the dam—across the tailwaters from the Songbird Trail. Norris Dam is about 30 miles north of Knoxville, Tenn., off I-75, exit 122. We will meet at 9 am at Norris Dam Visitor Center, 1810 Norris Freeway, since there is a bathroom and ample parking. Depending on number of people, we may carpool since parking is limited at the trailhead.

  Leader: Debra Barton

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• Little River Trail and Cucumber Gap Loop Hike

  • When
    04/29/2023
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • Location
    Little River Trailhead, Elkmont, GSMNP

  Register

  The Brown Book (Hiking Trails of the Smokies) calls this “one of the finest short loops in the park (total loop 5.5 miles)” . Late April should be a good time for spring wildflowers. This hike will proceed at a slightly slower than usual pace to allow for viewing scenery and photography. We will start at the Little River trailhead past Elkmont Campground. The trail gains about 400 ft. in elevation over 2.4 miles. Shortly after passing Huskey Branch Cascades on a wide bridge, we will take a sharp right turn to join Cucumber Gap Trail. After about 0.2 mile we will again cross Huskey Branch, this time with no bridge. In normal conditions the stream can be rock hopped but if the water is high, we may have to wade. Cucumber Gap Trail gains about 500 ft in 1.4 miles the descends to join Jakes Creek Trail. Here we can turn right to proceed to the Jakes Creek Trailhead which is about .6 mile from the Little River Trailhead. If there is interest, we can instead turn left on Jakes Creek and go 0.5 mile to visit the Avent Cabin. This would add another 1 mile to our hike for a total of 6.5 miles. Be advised that “Park It Forward” is now in effect and a parking permit will be required for the cars parking at the trailhead. Meet at the former Food City location at 121 N Hall Rd in Alcoa to carpool. We will leave sharply at 8:00 a.m. please arrive a little earlier to organize riders. Round trip is 68 miles; at 10 cents per mile reimbursement to the driver is $6.80. Drive towards Elkmont Campground and just before the campground entrance turn left. Little River trailhead is 0.6 mile up the side road. If you choose to meet at the trailhead, be there at 9:00 a.m. to start. Parking is somewhat limited there so carpooling is encouraged. This hike is rated moderate.

  Leader: Randy Mitchell

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• AT Work Trip

  • When
    05/06/2023
  •  
    8:00 AM
  • Location
    Davenport Gap, GSMNP

  This work trip will focus on treadway rehab in the section between Davenport Gap and Mt Cammerer Side Trail. The SMHC Newsletter will provide details on what to bring and where we will meet.

  Leader: Tim Bigelow
  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• National Trails Day

  • When
    06/03/2023
  • Location
    GSMNP

  Join us to celebrate our club’s 26th annual NTD event! We are optimistic that in 2023, following a day of good hard work on the Appalachian Trail, that we can gather for a picnic again at Metcalf Bottoms. NTD is an opportunity to work in crews, with experienced maintainers, to see just what goes into those beautiful trials we hike on, and in particular, the maintenance of the A.T., which our hiking club has cared for, for almost 100 years.

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• AT Work Trip

  • When
    07/08/2023
  •  
    8:00 AM
  • Location
    Fontana Dam, GSMNP

  This work trip will support the annual A.T. Konnarock Trail Crew in the National Forest. Each year, volunteers from across the country sign up for this ATC Sponsored summer trail crew for a week at a time, over a 2 week period. The crew will be building a new trail relocation near the Fontana Marina. The crew will be on location for several days, and will base camp in the area. SMHC volunteers that participate for 3 or more days on the project will receive an ATC Trails Crew T-Shirt.

  Leader: Randy Bullock
  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• AT Work Trip

  • When
    08/05/2023
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • Location
    GSMNP

  Each season, several hundred pounds of mulch are needed to help our backcountry privies compost effectively. This work trip will focus on packing mulch to one or more of our backcountry privy locations that is less than 5 miles from the trailhead. Mulch is put in 20lb. bags for carrying. The club has extra backpacking-style backpacks if needed. Anyone available to help is greatly appreciated! Lets go, Mulch Mules!

  Leader: Diane Petrilla
  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• AT Work Trip

  • When
    09/09/2023
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • Location
    Cosby Campground Hiker Parking, GSMNP, Cosby, TN

  This work trip will focus on treadway rehab in the section between Mt Cammerer Fire Tower and Camel Gap. Access to the work area will be via the 2.5 mile Low Gap Trail, starting at the Cosby Campground. Specific locations of work will be based on prioritization of work needed.

  Leader: Mark Shipley
  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• AT Work Trip

  • When
    10/07/2023
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • Location
    Newfound Gap, GSMNP

  This work trip will focus on treadway rehab in the section between Newfound Gap to Icewater Springs. This is our most heavily used section of trail, and it sees a lot of wear each season. Specific locations of work will be based on prioritization of work needed.

  Leader: Mark Snyder
  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• AT Work Trip

  • When
    11/04/2023
  •  
    8:00 AM
  • Location
    Sugarlands Visitors Center, GSMNP

  November is time to start winding down the trail maintenance season. This work day will be focused on cleaning, repairing, inventorying, and storing the club’s tools for the winter.

  Leader: Steve Dunkin
  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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